Three Israeli soldiers and gunman killed near Egypt border

Three Israeli soldiers and an Egyptian policeman were killed in a series of gun battles believed to be related to drug smuggling near the countries’ shared border, according to reports. 

The Israeli military said the Egyptian officer shot two soldiers dead at a military post at the Nitzana and Al-Awja border Saturday morning, various reports indicated. 

Hours later, another Israeli soldier and the Egyptian officer were killed in a gun battle on the Israeli side of the border. 

In the hours before the fatal incidents, Israeli authorities thwarted a drug smuggling operation on the border and seized nearly $400,000 in drugs.

The Egyptian military said their officer had been chasing smugglers across the border when the shooting began, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Egyptian military said they did not know how its officer ended up in a gunbattle with IDF soldiers when he was supposed to be chasing drug runners, according to The Jerusalem Post. 

Two of the Israeli soldiers killed have since been identified, and include 19-year-old Sgt. Lia Ben Nun, who died in the initial shootout, and Staff Sgt. Ohad Dahan, 20, who was fatally shot in the second clash, the Times of Israel reported. 

The third Israeli soldier killed and the Egyptian officer have not been identified. 

A fourth soldier was also injured when he was hit by shrapnel during the second shootout, but he has since been treated and released from the hospital. 

Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the military will be investigating the shooting and offered condolences to the victims’ families. 

“I’m pained by the death of the three soldiers at the Egyptian border incident,” Gallant wrote on Twitter. “IDF soldiers did their jobs with dedication, but the incident ended with terrible results. My family is with the families in their most difficult hour.”

With Post wires